The excellent #TomPalmer is back with a book set in Cornwall in June 1940 as fears of invasion are at fever pitch. Published by @barringtonstoke.bsky.social with illustrations by #PaulBlow and maps by #JamesInnerdale. More of this to come I hope. picturesandconversations.co.uk/2026/06/11/i...

If the Invader Comes by Tom Palmer

It’s hard for me to understand the real fear of invasion that existed in Britain in 1940. My parents, both of whom were born in the 1930s, were just too young to understand and my Dad, who wa…

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What fun to have Cafe Chaos back. Hope is trying to edge away from the madness that is the Crumble family cafe but too many tines of baked beans look set to foil her plans. Don't ask! But do read this laughter-filled book by @catiewilkins.bsky.social @katieabey.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social

A wonderfully quirky and funny play on alphabet books. It's really only suitable for children who have made their way through them. #CasparSalmon's conversational writing style matches well with #MattHunt's vibrant and dynamic illustrations. All together it's another joy from @nosycrow.bsky.social

Here's a book full of mistakes and accidents, some of which changed the world and our lives for the better (and others not so much!). Scotland's #AlexanderFleming heads the list but there are plenty more to read about @nosycrow.bsky.social #NatalieLabarre #GosiaHerba @cam.ac.uk

Take a train journey through the world of colour in this appealing little board book. There's lots to look out for, spot and enjoy and it's a book for little ones to come back to time after time @nosycrow.bsky.social #KatrinaCharman #EllaHobbis

Here's a fun book for brand new babies. It's made of fabric and full of scrunchie noises, felt flaps to lift and a mirror for baby to be amazed by. I'm only sorry there aren't more cuddly cats @nosycrow.bsky.social #IngelaPArrhenius

This is an eclectic selection of short biographies written by #TomAdams, illustrated by #SarahWalsh. Alongside the likes of @AnneFrankTrust and @Malala are many young people I have frankly never heard of. But their stories are worth reading @nosycrow.bsky.social

The Secret Garden is brought beautifully to life by #MargaritaKukhtina's charming illustrations, complementing #GeraldineMcCaughrean's sympathetic retelling of #FrancesHodgsonBurnett's classic story @nosycrow.bsky.social

This is another beautiful book from @nosycrow.bsky.social. #SusannahShane tells a simple heart-warming tale of family love sumptuously illustrated by #BrittaTeckentrup.

Some bears are SO impatient. They just hate standing in queues. But, wait a minute, it turns out there's one queue they think is such fun that they'll wait in it again and again @maudiesmith.bsky.social #AnnaSimeone @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Here's a n excellent idea for a last-minute Christmas present, although you should never need a reason to buy a book by @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social . This one is set in Bath and is a great story of family as well as a murder mystery. And I love #ElisaPaganelli's front cover @nosycrow.bsky.social

This new book from @alexcotter.bsky.social is complex and satisfying, a perfect winter read for confident, mature young readers. With much going on around her she doesn't understand Dina struggles to settle into life in Sheffield with her aunt. Can skating make things smooth? @nosycrow.bsky.social

Here's a perfect book for bedtime reading from #LouiseFitzgerald, #MargaritaKukhtima and @nosycrow.bsky.social. The rhyming text gradually slows down and the colour palette becomes more muted as the gentle and engaging story moves along until all the little animals are fast asleep.

Set 1918-1920 this focuses on two sisters and the parts they play in what comes after the War. Stella goes to Paris as a typist at the peace conference; Corran joins the YMCA School of Education to teach soldiers about to be demobbed. Loved it @florajowriter.bsky.social @allisonandbusby.bsky.social

Who wouldn't want a world of cats? This fascinating book is full of drawings and information, stories and history about the domesticated creatures of that ilk. It's beautifully produced as you'd expect from @nosycrow.bsky.social @lupencita.bsky.social #CarlieSorosiak

How much fun is this?! A dolls' house that can be neatly packed up and taken everywhere. Little ones can let their imaginations run riot as they use the pop-out pieces to decorate and furnish the house for this family of furry friends @nosycrow.bsky.social #IngelaPArrhenius

A new book from the ever-readable and hugely enjoyable @helenpeters.bsky.social published by the lovely @nosycrow.bsky.social

Anna at War by Helen Peters

I read Anna at War on Sunday afternoon and evening almost without pause. I started it so I could write this review but I continued with it because I could do nothing else. The plot drives along tak…

picturesandconversations.co.uk

Just out @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social is a new edition of a @brianwildsmithart.bsky.social classic that's stood the test of time. It's all about the strong, vibrant colours and dynamic actions of the players in the traditional song. It might also remind you of the lyrics as the numbers get higher!

From @barringtonstoke.bsky.social comes another great non-fiction title by @catwrote.bsky.social and #KatieHickey. This is the (somewhat sanitised) story of Josephine Baker and it's compelling, taking her from poverty in the US to stardom in Paris, through high-life, conflict and disillusionment.

Following on from Teatime Around the World, here are some soups for you courtesy of #DenyseWaissbluth #ChelseaOByrne and @greystonebooks.bsky.social. Bright, vibrant, interesting, full of facts and appealing, this straddles categories. Just a word of warning: the spelling is American.

What a fun series this is! The Weather Tots don't just learn about the weather at school. Guided by Professor Cloud, they also learn how to work well together. #NiaGould's cute illustrations complement @crowehoho.bsky.social's engaging stories beautifully @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Lots and lots of cats from @nosycrow.bsky.social in this counting book. They get everywhere so young readers will need to be sure to peek behind all the flaps. Lovely! @jonathanemmett.com #RobHodgson

I love #EkaterinaTrukhan's illustrations in this beautiful little picture book. It's an ode to autumn and is filled with seasonal blocks of colour and dynamic characters as a small girl revels in the joys of autumn, outdoors and in @nosycrow.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk

This book won me over because it has a cat on the cover! It will win over little children with its sounds and flaps and the mirror at the end. Parents will be be delighted to know that the noises can be turned off! Another bright, engaging, solid book from @nosycrow.bsky.social #PuiLee

Junie and Ruby bicker all the time, poking and chasing and shouting. Their Mummy is always showing them how to behave but they just carry on squabbling. The one day the Mummy Monster appears and is even worse than the sisters. How can they tame her? #RochelleFalconer @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Albert is a VERY grumpy bear. There aren't many things he likes (not picnics or fishing and DEFINITELY not ukeleles) but he does love a bubble bath. But so does everyone else in the forest. How is going to keep it to himself? #MarkMcKinley @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Is perfection really ... well, perfect? Pedro thinks so. Everything in his life is perfect but he doesn't have a perfect friend until he meets Poppy. But as they practise for the talent show things become...not perfect. #EllaOkstad @simonphilipauthor.bsky.social @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

This is a fun little series about dressing up with specific accessories. Anwar and Seren find lots of different jobs they can do with them. On Monday Anwar is a postman while on Thursday Seren is a ski instructor. Full of brightly-coloured fun #FernandoMartin @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Harry is a wriggly, curious otter. One day he's distracted by a heron standing all by himself and dances off to meet him. Ray the heron is very happy and the two have fun together until the other otters interfere... #WendyMeddour @magillustration.bsky.social @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social

Frank is happy being a caterpillar. He likes munching on leaves, looking at the view and being with his friends who all long to be gorgeous butterflies. Time moves on, chrysalises are formed and finally butterflies emerge. Who will be the happiest? #AlexLatimer @oxfordchildrens.bsky.social